ISO Consultant vs. Internal Auditor: What Are The Key Differences?

Introduction

Organizational governance is a complex and widespread context. ISO Consultants and ISO Auditors are the key roles which significantly contribute to the compliance excellence and operational efficiency. The methodologies, processes, objectives and scope of executing their work on any ISO standard would be slightly different. Understanding the differences between these two roles will aid the organizations in navigating and seeking towards the ISO certification process, maintain regulatory compliance, and foster the continuous improvements.

What Are The Differences Between ISO Consultants and Internal Auditors?

1. Objective And Scope 

ISO Consultants fundamentally focuses on building, developing and maintaining compliant systems from ground level. Their job is project-based and often concludes after the certification is achieved. Ex: An ISO 14001 consultant might design an environmental compliant management system for a manufacturing firm, ensuring all waste disposal and management protocols meet global standards.

ISO Auditors objective is to prioritize evaluating and refining existing systems. Their focus and efforts are cyclical, involving and revolving around regular audits, detecting discrepancies and recommending corrective measures. Ex: A retail company auditor might audit the supply chain management system quarterly to ensure compliance with ISO 9001 quality benchmarks. 

2. Employment Structure 

On a normal scale, ISO consultants are external contractors hired for specialized, short-term engagements. They bring in cross-industrial insights and best practices from diverse organizational contexts. 

Internal Auditors, on the other hand, are permanent employees deeply engaged in organization’s activities. Their familiarity with the organization’s culture, values, mission, practices, processes and historical data makes them capable of identifying, handling and resolving non-conformities and uplifting standards benchmarks. 

3. Skill Sets And Expertise 

ISO consultants requires expertise and knowledge in implementing ISO standards, documentation design, and change management. Their success depends on translating complex standards into actionable activities. 

Auditors need analytical prowess to dissect rigid processes, identify risks - assessment - treatment and control effectiveness. Proficiency in data analysis tools and regulatory frameworks is critical for this role.

4. Impact On Organizational Outcomes 

ISO consultants are directly responsible for certification success rates. A healthcare provider struggling with ISO 13485 (medical devices) compliance, might rely on a consultant to restructure and enhance its devices validation processes, thereby avoiding costly certification delays. 

Auditors contribute long-term operational resilience. By regular auditing practices, a financial firm aligning with ISO 27001 standard might mitigate the risks of data breach and financial penalties. 

What Are Their Roles And Responsibilities?

a) Role As An ISO Consultant - The Architect of Compliance Systems
A consultant is an external expert specialized in guiding, mentoring and helping the organizations through implementation of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) frameworks such as ISO 27001 (Information Security Management System), ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001 (Environment Management).

Their fundamental objective is to articulate, establish, and enhance the capabilities of management systems that align with ISOs requirements.

Responsibilities - Responsibilities Of Consultant Include Following

1) Gap Analysis: Conducting Gap Analysis to identify discrepancies between existing processes and ISO  Standards.    

2) Documentation: Developing tailor made documents, including policies designing, procedures, and workflows.

3) Conduct Training: Training staff on ISO requirements and fostering a culture of compliance. 

4) Audits Preparation: Preparing companies for external audits by certification bodies. 

ISO consultants play as strategic partners. As they often engaged with companies during the initial certification process or major system overhauls. The expertise they carry provides clarity and confidence to businesses in avoiding redundancies, streamline operations, and address non-conformities actively. 

b) Role As An Internal Auditor - Guardian Of Process Integrity
An Internal Auditor, by contrast, is basically an internal employee whose task is to evaluate the effectiveness of existing controls, risk management - assessment - treatment practices, and governance structures. Their role fundamentally focuses on continuous monitoring instead of system design and structuring. 

Responsibilities - Responsibilities Of Auditor Is To
1) Assess, Evaluate and Measure: Assessing, evaluating and measuring the internal controls to prevent fraud, cyberthreats, cyber attacks and ensure safeguarding of information assets.

2) Check For Operational Gaps: Identify operational inefficiencies and suggesting corrective actions. 

3) Validate And Justify: Validating and justifying the accuracy of compliance reporting and process documentation.

4) Document And Report: Documenting and reporting the research findings to the top management and audit committees. 

Internal Auditors operate individually evaluating, focusing on maintaining the integrity of pre-existing systems and processes in place. They play a vital role in sustaining ISO certification by ensuring on-going adherence to standards and driving continuous improvements. 

How Both Roles Collaborate To Drive Compliance?

* Pre-Certification Preparation
Consultants design and frame the compliance systems, while auditors test its resilience through mock audits. Ex: Before ISO 9001 certification audit, an auditor might stress-test quality control protocols developed by the consultants to ensure compliances with-stand real-world scenarios. 

* Post-Certification Sustainability 
Internal auditors monitor the system’s performance, identifying gaps that consultants might address later. A logistic company, after achieving ISO 14001 certification, could use the auditor's findings to engage a consultant for updating its carbon footprint reduction strategies. 

* Crisis Management 
Auditors diagnose root causes and consultants devise remediation plans. A food manufacturer facing ISO 22000 (Food Safety) non-conformity or crisis might deploy this tandem approach to overhaul its sanitation protocols smoothly. 

Conclusion

The ISO Consultant and Auditor are parallel forces in the realm of organizational compliance. Consultants lay down the groundwork for the certification process and its success, while auditors ensure sustainability and longevity via oversight. Businesses that leverage both the roles efficiently will achieve ISO certifications with excellence, have a strong resilience, and inculcate continuous improvement in their business processes and have a long-term compliance sustainability.